GA - Dr Matthew Willson 31, Astrophysicist visiting from UK, Fatally shot by stray bullet, 16 Jan'22

[dotr]

IMAGE SOURCE,BROOKHAVEN POLICE
Image caption,
Matthew Willson had been visiting his girlfriend when he was shot, according to US police
British man killed in 'reckless' Georgia shooting - BBC News
Jan 21 2022
''An astrophysicist has been killed in a "reckless" shooting while visiting his girlfriend in the US state of Georgia.

At 02:00 local time (07:00 GMT) officers were called to an apartment block in Clairmont Road, Buford Highway, Georgia.

Dr Matthew Willson, 31, from Surrey, UK, was found in bed with a single gunshot wound to the head.

The Foreign Office said it was "supporting the family of a British man following his death".

Brookhaven Police said the shooting of Dr Willson, from Chertsey, was "random" and involved the "reckless discharge of firearms".

Dr Willson "was in town from England visiting loved ones when the incident occurred," police said.''

''No suspects have so far been arrested and police are seeking information from the public. Authorities are offering a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest.''

 

[dotr]

Brookhaven Police ask public for help finding shooting suspect - YouTube

 

[fred&edna]

What the ???

"Officers had earlier been called to a neighbouring block of flats after reports of gunshots. They received a second call regarding a "person being shot" while they were checking the area."

From link posted above by @dotr

 

[dotr]

What the ???

Can you imagine his poor girlfriend, waking up to find her clever, handsome boyfriend (only arrived two days prior) lying dead beside her in bed, shot in the head?! imo.

 

[dotr]

British doctor, 31, is killed by a stray bullet in Atlanta while lying in BED | Daily Mail Online

In a 'senseless' tragedy the gun was fired at least 800ft away, passing through a forest and then into a neighbouring apartment via a wall, killing Dr Willson

British doctor, 31, is killed by a stray bullet in Atlanta while lying in BED | Daily Mail Online
''Revealed: British doctor, 31, who was shot dead in Atlanta while asleep next to his girlfriend died when stray bullet fired 'recklessly' from apartments nearby travelled 800FT through FOREST and hit him in the head

• British Dr Matthew Willson, 31, killed by a gunshot wound to the head after bullet came through wall
• He was lying in bed in an apartment in Brookhaven, Atlanta, when he was killed after suffering a single wound
• Dr Willson was visiting his girlfriend Kate Shepard and had only been there for two days when he died
• He studied at Georgia State University in the city and was staying in an apartment in its plushest suburb
• Police were investigating 'reckless discharge of a firearm' in block where someone was murdered last year''

''Matthew Willson, 31, from Surrey, was staying in an upmarket suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, having flown to America last week to visit his California-born partner Kate Shepard, a physicist and honor roll athlete.

The postdoctoral scientific researcher, from leafy Chertsey just west of London, had only been in the US for two days when he died in the freak incident, which is still being treated as homicide.

Police said they were called by Miss Shepard who was 'rendering aid' to her boyfriend after he was shot in the head.

It is not known if Miss Shepard lives in Atlanta, but Dr Willson is known to have studied at the city's Georgia State University and also has relatives in the area.

Police said they were called at 2am on Sunday to reports of the 'reckless discharge of a firearm' in an apartment block on Buford Highway. As they attended the scene they got a 911 call from another block of flats, where Dr Willson was staying, saying he had sustained a gunshot injury to the head. The Briton was taken to the local trauma centre but could not be saved.''

 

[Luwin]

An English astrophysicist was killed by a stray bullet that travelled through a wall and hit him in his bed, US authorities have said.

Dr Matthew Willson, 31, from Chertsey, Surrey, was found with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Police were called to an apartment in Brookhaven, Atlanta, at 02:00 local time (07:00 GMT) last Sunday.

Sgt Kissel said the stray bullet that hit Dr Willson travelled less than 100 yards (91m) and entered through an exterior wall of the apartment.

"The two apartment complexes where the gunfire took place and where Matthew was staying, they're separated by a patch of woods, so they back up to each other," he said.

"We're saying it's the reckless discharge of firearms from one apartment complex and the stray bullet travelled through the woods and entered his apartment."

Dr Willson was in the US visiting his girlfriend Katherine Shepard.

Georgia Shooting: British man Matthew Willson shot through wall

 

[Laughing]

RIP, Dr. Willson, peace and comfort to those you touched in life!

 

[Luwin]

The sister of an English astrophysicist who was killed by a stray bullet that travelled through a wall while he was in bed, said it was a "senseless act".

Kate Willson said: "Everyone who knew my brother has lost a wonderful friend."

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Ms Willson said her brother "was a joy to be around".

She said she had flown to the US as soon as she heard the news, arriving 36 hours later.

"The bullet had caused too much damage to his brain, he was brain dead, and there was very little chance he was ever going to wake up."

Georgia shooting: Matthew Willson was killed in 'senseless act'

 

[fred&edna]

I didn't see the type of firearm listed in news reports. Did I miss it?

 

[Luwin]

I didn't see the type of firearm listed in news reports. Did I miss it?

I've not seen it stated in any of the articles I've read

 

[Laughing]

I didn't see the type of firearm listed in news reports. Did I miss it?

Can't always be determined from bullet/fragments, either.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[fred&edna]

Can't always be determined from bullet/fragments, either.

jmho ymmv lrr

Oh, that's true. ty!

 

[Warwick1991]

I didn't see the type of firearm listed in news reports. Did I miss it?

Unless more information is available, it’s very difficult to know. The police must know a lot more than they’re saying about where the shots came from. They did say it was a distance of about 100 yards. At that distance, most handgun and rifle cartridges will retain most of their speed and energy. Many handgun cartridges, like the 9mm, can travel over a mile, although the energy of the projectile drops off at that distance. Most handgun cartridges will penetrate wood frame walls and drywall. Rifle cartridges can travel much farther.

Someone was extremely reckless with a firearm, and took an innocent person’s life. Since multiple shots were heard, it would be interesting to know what was going on. It can’t be an accidental discharge - that would be just one shot instead of several.

 

[Luwin]

The odds of this happening must have been so small, for the bullet to leave one property (I'm actually not sure whether the shooter was inside or outside?), to travel through the wooded area, to enter the wall of another property and end up in Matthews head.

I know nothing about guns but had naively assumed you'd be pretty safe within a property if there was a gunman outside.